Samantha Fruhwirth was one of them, starting in a ballet class full of giggling girls in pink leotards at Repertory Dance Theatre's Emmaus studio.

Now the 2011 Emmaus High School graduate has realized the dream. She is one of a few dancers accepted as a trainee at the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, N.J.

This weekend she presents her final performance at RDT where she has spent 12 years, when she dances the lead in the ballet "Coppelia."

"American Repertory Ballet is a very select program," says Jennifer Haltzman Tracy, co-artistic director of RDT. "This is a very prestigious honor."

Haltzman Tracy says RDT had asked Fruhwirth to perform the dual role of Swanhilda, the village girl, and the dancing doll, Coppelia, before they knew she had been chosen for the trainee program.

"It's bittersweet," Haltzman Tracy says. "We're glad she can do this as her swan song."

Although she has danced many leads for RDT, Fruhwirth had been practical after graduating from high school. She knew how difficult it can be to pursue a career in ballet and set her sights on college. She was a freshman at Lehigh Carbon Community College, studying mechanical engineering.

"Besides dance, I always wanted to be an engineer because I love learning how things work," she says.

Auditioning at Princeton earlier this year was almost an afterthought.

"I really winged it," says the 19-year-old. "I went in with no hopes or expectations. Then the next night I got an email inviting me to be a trainee and I couldn't believe it."

Fruhwirth will be one of 11 trainees from all over the world, including France and Italy.

"Here I am this small town girl from Emmaus," Fruhwirth says. "I was shaking and thinking this can't be happening. You only get one shot at being a professional ballet dancer. I can always go back to college."

Fruhwirth says she is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was a ballet dancer. Fruhwirth was a little late in starting ballet. She took her first classes at age 7. Dancers often start as young as age 3.

"I was old at 7, but I quickly advanced through the levels," Fruhwirth says. "I loved classical ballet and jazz."

Haltzman Tracy says Fruhwirth always worked hard and was dedicated to her dancing.

"Sam always had something special about her," she says. "She excels in everything she does."

Her first time on stage was as one of the little party girls with a hobby horse in "The Nutcracker."

But before long she was getting larger roles. At age 14, she was asked to dance the lead in "Once Upon A Scrambled Fairy Tale," a ballet created by RDT co-artistic director Trinette Singleton.

"I was so honored," Fruhwirth says. "I was only a little kid and I had a lead."

More leading roles followed. She danced in almost every one of the variations in "The Nutcracker" and, as a high school freshman, danced the plum role of Clara.

"That was very exciting," she says. "It was one of most nerve-wracking things because it was my first time partnering in ballet. It's a completely different technique."

She also danced as Dorothy in "Dorothy's Adventures in Oz," another ballet created by Singleton; as well as the traditional roles of Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty" and the title role in "Cinderella." She also spent a summer in Texas where she was accepted to study at a Joffrey Ballet workshop.

"What I love about ballet it is it is an art where you use your body to make the art form," she says.

Haltzman Tracy says being a trainee is a "stepping stone" to joining the company of American Repertory Ballet.

Fruhwirth will move to Princeton and dance six days a week, perform with the company and do outreach programs.

"I'm pretty much guaranteed to dance professionally," Fruhwirth says.

As for "Coppelia," Fruhwirth says she was honored when she was asked to dance the role as well as nervous, which she says will improve her dancing.

"Sam is a technically exquisite dancer," Haltzman Tracy says. "She also has a lot of stage presence and has the ability to act."

In the story of "Coppelia" Swanhilda is a village girl who is to marry Franz but she gets upset with him when he is entranced by a life-size doll at the toy maker's shop. She tricks both Franz and the toy maker by pretending to be the doll come to life. In the end all is forgiven, and the couple marries.

"It's a really fun role to play," Fruhwirth says. "Swanhilda is a peppy girl with attitude and very curious."

She says the pas de deux during the wedding is one of her favorites because it is so emotional.

Looking forward to the long, hard days of training ahead, Fruhwirth says "I'd rather be tired and sore than not do anything."

"I'll see where this takes me," she says. "Right now I'm living the dream."

•What: Ballet about a mysterious toy maker and his life-size dancing doll is presented by Repertory Dance Theatre and features Samantha Fruhwirth of Emmaus in the title role. The evening show also feature performances from DanceSpora, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts and DM Dance Company.

•When: 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday

•Where: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1533 Hamilton St., Allentown

•How much: $16-$20

•Special event: After the 1 p.m. performance there will be a dessert party featuring dancers from the cast and craft projects for children. Tickets are $7.